Assignment: Find the silver lining

I don't like being sick--who does--but all the same, there's something deeply comforting about reducing your to-do list to the most essential.

Today, my world has consisted of an aunt tiptoeing in to leave orange juice on my nightstand, hot salty chicken broth in a mug that warms my hands, guilty-pleasure TV shows I usually try to avoid, and a pile of blankets. It could be a lot worse.